This short study of the history of the Order of St John of Jerusalem, Rhodes and Malta, also known as the Knights Hospitaller, is intended as an introduction to the Order for academics working in other fields, as well as the interested general reader. Beginning with a consideration of the origins of the Order as a hospice for pilgrims in Jerusalem in the eleventh century, it traces the Hospitaller's development into a military order during the first part of the twelfth century, and its military activities on the frontiers of Christendom in the eastern Mediterranean, Spain and eastern Europe during the middle ages and into early modern period: its role in crusades and in wars against non-Christians on land and at sea, as well as its role in building and maintaining fortresses. It also considers the Order's activities away from the frontiers of Christendom: its economic activities and its relations with patrons and rulers throughout Europe, as well as its hospitaller work and its religious life. The focus of the study is on the medieval period down to the loss of Rhodes in 1522, but the final chapters of the book consider the Order's history on Malta from the sixteenth to the end of the eighteenth century, and from the loss of Malta in 1798 to the present day. HELEN NICHOLSON is Senior Lecturer in History, Cardiff University.
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Can be recommended not only to scholars but also to the general public. All those interested in the history of the crusades must be grateful to have so succinct, so reliable and so readable a summary. CRUSADESNicholson, one of the UK's leading historians of the medieval military orders, succeeds in setting out (the) main features in an authoritative and accessible manner. She has a flair for clear and uncluttered explanations enlivened with telling detail and quotation. And her account is comprehensive... An attractive volume. HISTORY
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HELEN NICHOLSON is Senior Lecturer in History, Cardiff University.
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28 of 29 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Knights Hospitaller - Chivalry at its Best
22 Jan 2005
By Dr. Carl Edwin Lindgren
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
Nicholson, Helen. The Knights Hospitaller. (Woodbridge, UK: The Boydell Press, 2001).
Helen Nicholson is one of the leading scholars of medieval military religious orders. Her books are well known for providing new theories and insight into the history of the military orders, and The Knights Hospitaller is no exception. Though the nature of Dr. Nicholson's work is academic, and one that no scholar of the military orders should be without, her writing is uncluttered by jargon and un-translated items, making it accessible to all.
The Knights Hospitaller covers the history of the Order from its inception to the loss of Malta in 1798 and beyond to the standing of the Order in the present day. Dr. Nicholson does not look at this history in isolation, but rather sets the context for the Order's working by detailing pertinent events and mindsets over the course of the five hundred years of history the book covers. However, in doing so, the work raises some questions that are not answered by Dr. Nicholson. For instance, in discussing the Order's misty founding, Dr. Nicholson dismisses the claim made by William of Tyre that the Order was originally dedicated to St. John the Almoner, without really saying why or drawing any conclusions as to why William would have made this up. Though Dr. Nicholson seems to favor an Amalfian origin to the Order, there is no reason given not to believe that the Order was, at some point in its early days, dedicated to St. John the Almoner.
Despite a few missing answers, which may have been beyond the scope of the work, The Knights Hospitaller is an excellent introduction for anyone curious in learning more about medieval military orders. Dr. Nicholson has once again provided a book that is well worth the time taken to read it.
Review by Jennifer Regan and Dr. Carl Edwin Lindgren
Helen Nicholson is one of the leading scholars of medieval military religious orders. Her books are well known for providing new theories and insight into the history of the military orders, and The Knights Hospitaller is no exception. Though the nature of Dr. Nicholson's work is academic, and one that no scholar of the military orders should be without, her writing is uncluttered by jargon and un-translated items, making it accessible to all.
The Knights Hospitaller covers the history of the Order from its inception to the loss of Malta in 1798 and beyond to the standing of the Order in the present day. Dr. Nicholson does not look at this history in isolation, but rather sets the context for the Order's working by detailing pertinent events and mindsets over the course of the five hundred years of history the book covers. However, in doing so, the work raises some questions that are not answered by Dr. Nicholson. For instance, in discussing the Order's misty founding, Dr. Nicholson dismisses the claim made by William of Tyre that the Order was originally dedicated to St. John the Almoner, without really saying why or drawing any conclusions as to why William would have made this up. Though Dr. Nicholson seems to favor an Amalfian origin to the Order, there is no reason given not to believe that the Order was, at some point in its early days, dedicated to St. John the Almoner.
Despite a few missing answers, which may have been beyond the scope of the work, The Knights Hospitaller is an excellent introduction for anyone curious in learning more about medieval military orders. Dr. Nicholson has once again provided a book that is well worth the time taken to read it.
Review by Jennifer Regan and Dr. Carl Edwin Lindgren
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Black Friars
8 Nov 2011
By C. Repicky
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is another great book by Dr Helen Nicholson. Her attention to the various details pertaining to the Military Order of the Hospital rivals the efforts she's put forth regarding the Templar Order as well. A must have and read for any Crusades enthusiast as well as Medieval reenactor.
4 of 6 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good analysis but lacks substance
4 Nov 2009
By Ayperi Okur
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have carefully read The Knights Hospitaller by Helen Nicholson and found it very informative. It is a historical book analyzing the Kights of Hospitallers from the perspective of their fighting abilities, their reinforcement of their defence capabilities--in other words how and why they lost or won wars--and additionally their religious stance.
I would however like to find instances from the daily life of the Hospitallers in the book,as well, since they were not at war all the time, but unfortunately there weren't any. This is a disappointment from my point of view.
I guess that's it.
I would however like to find instances from the daily life of the Hospitallers in the book,as well, since they were not at war all the time, but unfortunately there weren't any. This is a disappointment from my point of view.
I guess that's it.
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